Trail Blazers vs. Mavericks Prediction and Odds for Saturday, November 12 (Dallas Overvalued)
By Reed Wallach
Two teams that figure to be Western Conference playoff teams are set to do battle in Dallas on Saturdaynight.
Luka Doncic is putting up MVP-like numbers this season on astronomically high usage, leading the Mavericks to a 6-5 record. However, the Blazers have been one of the best stories of the young season, out to a 9-3 record with Damian Lillard in-and-out of the lineup.
Lillard is set to return from a one game absence on Saturday, yet the Blazers are considerable underdogs. Can Portland get to 10 wins in early November?
Trail Blazers vs. Mavericks Odds, Spread and Total
Trail Blazers vs. Mavericks Prediction and Pick
The Mavericks, as expected, are a one man team around Doncic, and it's worked so far. The guard has led the league in usage the past two seasons, and it's even higher this season, up to over 39%. He is averaging a league high 33 points per game with eight rebounds and nearly eight assists as he does everything for Dallas.
However, it hasn't led to covers for the Mavs, who have actually underwhelmed relative to expectations because the team is unable to pull away from their opponents because they are predictable down the stretch. Doncic has kept the team afloat, but they are 3-7-1 against the spread (ATS) this season.
Meanwhile, the Blazers have been fantastic from a wins and losses view and against the number, going 10-2 ATS through 12 games. Portland has done it on the defensive end, sixth in points allowed per 100 possessions, and has the switchable wings to check Doncic.
This is simply too many points for a Portland team that has been able to compete without Lillard in the lineup. Now that he is back, expect a thriller in Dallas.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.